There was a flan on the ground. Too small to be much harm, but it was in the Peristylium no less. The blond was tempted to touch it with his shoe, but the thought of it sticking caused him to abstain.
“Why…?”
Catching sight of the other’s apparent concentration from afar, Vaan approached curiously from behind. Whatever had captured Ace’s attention had obviously demanded enough for a verbal response, though not one the thief could make out.
He leaned forward, trying to see what the other had been staring at, “Whatcha lookin at Ace?”
The snowy tressed reaper stalked through the darkened streets, simply happy to be outside rather than trapped in bed like they so often were. The night air was particularly cool, icy hues remaining cast towards the sky as she remained lost in her thoughts.
This was rapidly disturbed however as she felt a rather rough force slamming into her chest, causing the girl to stumble backwards into the concrete. “The fuck?!” A soft growl slipped free as she stood and eyed the male warily, his suspicious nature catching her attention “Why’re you so quick t’ disappear?” she asked flatly, not caring whether he was a stranger or not.
Noting the agitation from the girl, Vaan hesitated from his flighty retreat. The rush down an alley at night would likely only make him seem shifty. Then realizing her question, the impression of being called-out made him force a smile, “Uh, no reason. I was just avoiding some old acquaintances. I should have been more careful.”
Eyeing the view of the street, Vaan lessened his guard, dubious that anyone would come down their way anyways. He had overlooked the fact that she had fallen before, and apologetically, the blond reached out a hand, “lemme help you up.”
Quickening pace to leave the open view of the city streets, Vaan maintained his brisk walk and began towards a slow jog. His hands and pockets feeling full with the weight of newly “accumulated” belongings, a slight anxiety crept into mind with the sight of armored men in the distance, pressuring him into a nearby alley.
Then the impact of another body.
“Sorry ‘bout that!” He leaned down, in a scramble to recollect what items he had dropped in the fumble. Then peering over his shoulder, on guard, he hastily addressed the silverette before him, “—but, I should go now.”
The market stalls stood packed, the thick of bodies among the heat of the day practically begging Vaan for picking. His eyes flitting back and forth from person to person, they landed on the shimmer of blue hair from his left side. A finer dress, compared to the thief’s own dusty apparel drew him closer to his target.
Blend into the crowd … just wait for them to look away…
He leaned in, after what he took to be his chance, to discover what lined the stranger’s pockets.
It wasn’t like Vaan to panick—but then again, one could never know. Larsa crossed his arms, a brow furrowed, looking intently to the door. Surely something could be done. He had potions, anyway… and how exactly had they found themselves in this predicament? Perhaps flying off with Vaan had not been—the best choice.
“Can’t you summon an Esper—? Or—have you the mist to perform a quickening?”
“An esper or a quickening,” he stated, more a reiteration than a question.
Larsa’s quick-thinking was a quality to be grateful for in moments like this. Hearing a swooping channel of wind on the opposite of the door, it was obvious the adversary wasn’t going anywhere. A wyvern, meaning flying enemy… White Whirl would probably be best, if he could muster the magic power to do so.
“Who ever expects to find me anywhere as of late? The expectation, rather, is that I am shackled to imperial duties and that I sacrifice the cultivation of my individuality.” The young lord gave a light laugh, shuffling modestly a pair of hands behind his back, eyes eagerly alit. “It’s been too long, Vaan. How fares Dalmasca’s sky pirate?”
Vaan’s attempt to console Larsa could not overlook. Whether his words rung with fact or concern, it mattered not. Warmth relinquished the grip of anxiety from his breast, leaving the young lord a small, content smile. So maybe this was the pleasure of a true friendship: a person not knowing exactly what his friend wants to hear, yet attempting a consolation.
The small details, they always mattered.
His spirits rose again as did his tone. He wanted to shake off the bad feelings, he didn’t want to waste time. There was no telling when he would see next see Vaan. “Home is home, after all,” Larsa heartily agreed. “We’re both young, too. I wonder if you’ll ever get tired of traveling.” He then laughed. “I somehow don’t see that at all. Though… I do wonder what we’ll be like—you know, when we’re older.”
An image of Vaan he pulled from his mind: a man confident and well-traveled, skilled at his sword, and a great orator of ghastly tales—still lacking refinements and courtesy. It elicited another giggle.
The break of a smile had been relieving. Often times, it seemed people needed the reminders of purpose. For Larsa, it seemed to Vaan that he had always fought for the general well-being of others, which was admirable; Vaan could understand. Yet, working so diligently, one could lose sight of the original intent. At times, Vaan himself questioned just what led his heart in his adventures.
The concept of aging was one Vaan had little contemplation of. Sure, he had daydreams of his future, traveling the skies, with just the wind to guide him, but the concept of age was for those more forward thinking such as the other. Perhaps Larsa would look alike to his brother. Only, his leadership would be more pure-hearted. The two had some appearance similarities, however, merely consequence from shared blood.
Laughing alongside him, Vaan replied,“I agree; that’s not likely to happen. I’d rather die in the skies than lazily settle down in some town without anything to do.”More thoughtfully, he continued though, “You’ll probably have your own projects and plans for Archadia, making history as some great leader.”
”Not a twig.“ Really, the candidate hadn’t even heard the other enter the area, much less speak to him. Too busy looking at his arm at this point and securing the weight bands to his wrists that he actually used to train on occasion. Kept him from looking too lazy, he supposed.
But then he did happen to notice one would-be sky pirate, and his face flustered in mild shock. What did the other think he was doing? It probably looked weird, heavy tubes on his arms and all, but still. “Nothing, Vaan." Leave me alone.
From appearances, Vaan had never caught glance of Ace outside of the pressed look of his uniform, let alone realized the presence of the weight bands attached to his wrists. Were those always there? He hypothesized that he wouldn’t actually know, given that sleeves would have covered them anyways.
Ignoring the other’s disregard of his question, Vaan continued forward, inspecting closer.“Are you training with those? Wouldn’t it be faster to go hunting or sparring?”
At least when hunting, you could collect loot or gil along the way.
”… I apologize.“ Gaze narrowed, not out of disbelief, but the fact that Vaan had taken what he’d said somewhat offensively. The candidate, being unversed in most ways of the world, simply did not understand the desire to frivolously visit other places for pleasure. If it wasn’t needed, why bother?
“I never said you were being a disruption, Vaan." I just didn’t expect you back for a while.
“Don’t worry ‘bout it,”Vaan responded, a tad concerned that the mild shot to his ego had been too visible.
“And I guess you never said that, but I don’t want you mistaking my traveling to for things that would cause you problems.”Then believing the need to further his explanation, he continued with a smile,“I’m just passing through and happened to overhear you.”
